2015 Dodge Charger Unveiled at NYIAS

While many Mopar faithful remain mad enough to fight about the fact that the Dodge Charger is a sedan instead of a coupe, Dodge has released the redesigned 2015 Charger live and in color during the 2014 New York International Auto Show. Grinding salt into the wounds of Chrysler purists, a Dodge executive said on Wednesday that the design team had taken their inspiration for the 2015 Charger from the 1969 Dodge Charger, which was a very popular muscle car with only two-doors. Seriously, the 2015 Charger will continue to satisfy a need for a practical family sedan with a great deal of oomph, as well as filling a need as a law enforcement vehicle — it will just look a little better in so doing.

Only the roof and the rear doors; that was all of the sheet metal that was carried over from last year’s Charger. The yield is a totally redesigned exterior that is sleeker and smoother than last year. The “bags under the eyes” that cursed the 2014 Dodge Charger have been done away with and the front end has been opened up with a larger gloss-black grille, thinner headlights, and a body-colored fascia. Overall the limited appearance upgrade was a success, including the “Halo” ringed HID headlights and the LED tail lights, but the automaker’s desire to make the Charger appear lighter and smaller seems to have manifest itself stylishly.

Mock the Charger because of its sedan status if you must but know this: It certainly does not lack powerful engine options. The base level trim package engine is a 3.6-liter V6 that produces a reasonable 292-horsepower and 260-lb.-ft. of torque and the higher trim levels come with a ravenous 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that cranks out 470-horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. That is not to even mention the SRT-8 trim level that boasts a 470-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8. Couple these engine choices with the only available transmission, an eight-speed automatic, and the redesigned cast aluminum axle-housings (yes, automatically adaptive all-wheel drive is still available) and you have a well balanced machine.

Inside, the Charger is available as fat or as lean as you like it. Interior trim packages range from high-quality cloth surfaces, available in a wide variety of colors and textures, to plush and soft leather with laminated faux wood or carbon-fiber accents. The 2015 Charger is offered in a wide variety of seating configuration which provide maximum comfort and safety for passengers in the front and rear seats. Numerous safety features including lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with mitigated braking, forward collision warning with mitigated braking, and a full contingency of supplemental inflatable safety restraints.

The driver of the 2015 Challenger is treated to the convenience of a seven-inch thin-film-transistor screen located between the speedometer and tachometer. This allows him/her to personalize settings according to taste, driving conditions, or driving abilities. In the center stack, controls are arranged with simplicity and taste drawing focus towards the standard 5-inch, or optional 8.4-inch, LCD touchscreen display.

The 2015 dodge Charger is expected to hit dealer showrooms later in 2014 in celebration of 100-years for Dodge.